Status: The Meridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrograph (MISS) project

Fred Sigernes^1,2, Dag Arne Lorentzen¹, Noora Partamies¹, Mikko Syrjäsuo¹ and Magnar Gullikstad Johnsen³

¹ The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway
² Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
³ Tromsø Geophysical Observatory (TGO), Norway

The Meridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrographs (MISS) 1-2 are the only instruments at The Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) that are capable of tracking any sky object across the magnetic meridian, capturing simultaneously the entire visible spectrum (400-700 nm) with a spectral resolution less than one 1 nm. Other instruments, such as multi channel narrow band interfernce filter instruments cannot achive the entire spectrum and they usually also includes moving parts.

In other words, it is the only instrument that can measure and track the spectral signature of for example aurora like features as fragmented, streaks and continuous emissions. The source of these emissions are still a mystery and debated in the scientific community [1].

The goal is to move MISS 2 away from KHO to a suitable location on Svalbard in order to perform spectral altitude triangulation [2,3], and thereby calculate and estimate energy input of solar wind source particles. Candidates are Ny-Ålesund, Isfjord radio or Svea.

This project is vital and fulfill our strategic aim to upgrade, develop and compare instruments as novel technology and knowledge emerge. In addition, it puts us upfront as an attractive partner to large scale rocket and satellite campaigns both on the instrumental and observational side.

Fig. 1. Meridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrograph 2 (MISS 2) assembled.Panel (A) Side view. Panel (B) Top view. (1) Atik 414EX camera head, (2) Nikkor 35 mm objective, (3) GRISM house, (4) Thorlabs 200 mm collimator lens, (5) Slit tube housing with field lens, and (6) Peleng Fisheye objective.

The core instrumental part is an air spaced grating and prism stacked together to form a wavelength tunable optical element known as a GRISM. A second improved version MISS 2 is now constructed, calibrated and documented by Nicolas Martinez [4]. He finished his Masters in December 2024. In October Jesse Delbressine [5], an Internship student from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), installed MISS 2 and initiated the first tests at KHO.

Fig. 2. Raw data sample. Panel (A) MISS 2 spectrogram from 22nd of December 2024. Panel (B): BACC allsky image.

Figure 2 shows a snapshot spectrogram from MISS 2. The weak airglow and auroral emission lines OI 557.7 nm and OI 630/646.4 nm are all clearly identified in the Southern horizon. Note how well the data supplements our all-sky color camera (BACC).

Fig. 3. Processing example. MISS 1 keograms from 9-10th of December 2019. The top, middle and bottom panels correspond to auroral emission intensities at wavelengths 557.7, 630 and 487.2 nm, respectively. Hemispheric geomagnetic North to South slices of sky intensities is stacked as a function of time to get an overview of auroral activity. Bottom panel is a RGB color composite using the above channels.

The instrument is controlled by a Windows PC that runs Python. The programming language was chosen based on its multi-platform nature. A future move to for example a Rasperry PI could optimize and lower energy consumption.

One major goal is to write robust python code to generate daily keograms. See examples in Figure 3. This requires real-time data acquisition and testing in dark sky conditions. Data access should be open for students and scientists associated with the observatory.

The above data samples show that MISS performance is close to our old Meridian Scanning Photometer (MSP).

Fig. 4. Mobile Auroral Trailer Station (MATS).

We have gained access* to a helicopter hut model 370 manufactured by the company Letthus (https://www.letthus.no). The hut may be easily moved to any location with quick operational setup.

Figure 4 shows a basic sketch of the modified hut, which includes an entrance door, a removable roof lid with dome, and an inside wall to separate it into two sections. The first section is the control room with a door leading into the second section, the instrumental / dome room. Computers and environmental electronics are planned to be installed in the control room.

The BACC camera and MISS 2 will be installed on a height movable platform in the center beneath the dome. A wood frame with a vertical movable platform should be constructed beneath the dome lid to create a stable lift system for the instruments. The roof lid should be mounted to the container roof with machine threaded bolts for convenient replacement of a second identical lid without dome for transportation and protection.

We seek students to join construction of MATS with MISS 2 and a BACC all-sky color camera as core instruments. The construction will be done in the garage of KHO. Operational tests will be performed with MATS mounted on the platform of the observatory prior to the move to the final site. It is expected that students should perform processing of data in real-time 24/7 to produce keograms and final data products using python. A dual site hyperspectral data cube opens up new possibilities and challenges in both processing and science outcome.

Fig. 5. The Meridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrograph (MISS) project time line.

Item	Description	Cost (kNOK)	In-kind (kNOK)
1	Mobile Auroral Trailer Station (MATS)		300
2	All-sky color camera (BACC)		50
3	2xMeridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrograph (MISS)		1000
4	Dome		25
5	Starlink Mini	10
6	Honda Generator	25
7	Goal Zero Power Station	50
8	Transportation	80
9	Unforseen costs	50
	Total	215	1375

Table 1. Budget for The Meridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrograph (MISS) project. Note that instruments and helicopter hut are already available.

Most of the items in Table 1 may be purchased in Longyearbyen, except 5.

Year	Topic	Journal
1	MISS as a novel 180-degree field of view Hyperspectral Imager	OPTICA
2	MATS construction with sample data	EGU GI
3	Hyperspectral triangulations of auroras and other targets	EGU ANGEO

Table 2. Proposed publications as a start.

Note that MISS data will be highly attractive to the upcoming RENU3 rocket campaign [6] where we aim to track Poleward Moving Auroral Forms (PMAFs) in order to understand the neutral upwelling process that drives heating in the cusp of the magnetosphere.

We deeply acknowledge Prof. Tor Arne Johansen (UiB) that donated his helicopter hut named "Helgebu" to us. He has been an adjunct professor from the beginning of UNIS back in 1993. Thanks Tor Arne!

1. Partamies, N. Dayton-Oxland, R., Herlingshaw, K., Virtanen, I., Gallardo-Lacourt, B., Syrjäsuo, M., Sigernes, F., Nishiyama, T., Nishimura, T., Barthelemy, M., Aruliah, A., Whiter, D., Mielke, L., Grandin, M., Karvinen, E., Spijkers, M. and Ledvina, V., First observations of continuum emission in dayside aurora, Preprint, EGUsphere, 29 November 2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3669
2. Sigernes, F., Moen, J., Lorentzen, D. A., Deehr, C. S., Smith, R., Øieroset, M., Lybekk, B. and Holtet, J., SCIFER-Height measurements of the midmorning aurora, Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 1889, 1996, https://doi.org/10.1029/96GL01428
3. E. Robert, M. Barthelemy, G. Cessateur, A. Woelffle, H. Lamy, S. Bouriat, M. G. Johnsen, U. Brandstrom and L. Biree, Reconstruction of electron precipitation spectra at the top of the upper atmosphere using 427.8 nm auroral images , J. Space Weather Space Clim. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2023028
4. Martinez, N., Masters, The Meridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrograph 2: Enhancing Auroral Tracking Capacities, Luleå Technical University (LTU) and UNIS, December, 2024.
5. Delbressine, J.,Operationalize The Meridian Imaging Svalbard Spectrograph (MISS) II, 3MA15 External Internship Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology and UNIS, November, 2024.
6. MoserGauthier, C., Lessard, M., Clemmons, J. H., Hecht, J. H., Brinkman, D. G., Bonnell, J. W., Walterscheid, R. L., Aruliah, A. L., Sigernes, F., Baddeley, L., Clausen, L., Novock, L. B. and Yeoman, T. K., The Upcoming Rocket Experiment for Neutral Upwelling 3 (RENU-3) Sounding Rocket Mission, AGU Fall Meeting 2023, held in San Francisco, CA, 11-15 December 2023, Session: SPA-Aeronomy / Sounding Rocket Platforms for Enabling Exploration and Discovery: The Past, Present, and Future of Space Research II Poster, Poster No. 252, id. SA13C-252.